Apparatus for measuring articles



Nov. 4, 1941. H. R. LoNGFl-:LLOW 2,261,772

APPARATUS FO-RVMEASURING ARTICLES Filed Jan. l1, 1940 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 FUNITED STATES.v ,PATENT oFFici;

APPARATUS FOR ARTICLES Herold n. Longfellow, Baltimore. Md., minor to `Western Electric-Company, Incorporated, New York, N.'Y., a corporation of New York Appiiootion January 11, 1940, serial No. 313,340

(ci. :1s-24) 4 Claims.

method of measuring the various dimensions ofsuch conductors has been to visually examine cross-sectionalareas of the V0ciilnluctorsand in. addition to manually vuse a micrometer on .the

conductors. Difllculty has been experienced in obtaining a satisfactory determination of the various cross-sectional dimensions and contour of such conductors'by this prior method since the results obtained thereby generally depend on the keen observation of the person -inspecting the area and a skillfulv manual manipulationof theI micrometer upon theeasily compressible rubber surrounding the conductors.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for accurately and expeditiously measuring articles.

In attaining this and other `objects, the method as .practiced for measuring dimensions of articles, such as overall dimensions, ydiameter andconcentricity of easily compressible rubber Acoveredl multi-electrical conductors ofA the oval",

crosssectional type, .comprises cutting a samplelength o f conducton, forming an undistorted cross-sectional area by grinding or other finish-y ing operations beyond the point at which itV was f cut, prdeterminedly positioning the area inan optical projection system producing a beam of light and then projecting an enlarged image of the area on a scale screenfor comparison therewith. An apparatus embodying the features of .i

the invention for practicingrthe method includes a rotatable sleevelike member and an apertured adjustable support for freely receiving. and`pre'-l determinedly positioning the member vfor rotation in the system. The member is provided Other objects and advantag vof the invention will be understood by referring .to the following specication and accompanying drawing. in which K Fig. 1is a diagrammatic side view of an optical ,projection system and means. shown partly in section, for supporting a sample length of conductor to be measured embodying the features of this invention as applied to the measuring of cross-sectionall areas of rubber covered multielectrical conductors of the oval type;

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1 showing'the scale screen and tb' magnified image of the cross-sectional area of the lconductor being measured;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, as viewed in Fig. 1, of the means for supporting the length of conductor with its. cross-sectional area. tobe measured in predetermined position in the optical projection system, and

i Fig. 4 is`an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan' view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing referring particularly to F1g.'1 which diagrammatically illustrates an optical projection system, a lamp I0 emits a beam o! light of high intensity. The light beam passes from a housing (not shown). which supports a reilector il through a' condensing lens l2 and to va mirror I3 which deilects the light beam up" wardly 'at a suitable angle to illuminate an end cross-sectional area Il of anV article to be meas- '.ured, which in the present instance is a sample `length of rubber covered multi-electricall conductor I5 of the oval cross-sectionaltype.` conducting wires being` indicated at is. From the illuminated conductor area -II the light vbeam is reflected through a system of' projection' jlenses indicated at I1 of a suitable telescope or microscope which projects a magnied image upon a scale screen I8. The enlarged image o n the scale'jscreem Itis viewed from *a point, indicated at IS'; which is suitably shielded so that-external with 'n slot extending longitudiuauy throughout l* its length for receiving the vsample length lof con; ductor, the cross-sectional area being positioned flush with an end surface of thememb'er, and a* yieldable element Acarried by"l the. member-arranged'to engage a portion of the conductor ad'' jacent the cross-sectional' area for retaining the` conductor in a predetermined position withinthe slot.

lightcannotstrike the screen. Theoptical projeotionsystem including the edsustebie stese' apparatuslfor focusing the. image'of theartlcle being measured have not been illustrated nor' described in detail, since auch systems and appa.

ratus are well known inthe art'and are not believed necessary to a full understanding of invention.I Y

The conductor Il. an

type o'f adjustablestage fragmentary shown at 20 (Figs.v 3 and 4)in the form of a bar whereby imageV of endA cross sectional arew Hof whichis to be projected onto. l the scale screen I8, is supported on asuitable the member 2| and plate 22, the two tapered the conductor area i4 may be shifted to obtain a clear and accurate image thereof on the scale screen I8. Fixed to the bar 20 is an L-shaped member 2l to a horizontal arm of which is attached a plate 22. Formed in the horizontal arm of the member 2| and plate 22 is a vertically directed circular aperture 25 (Fig. l), the peripheral surface of which is tapered. For directly supporting and rotating the sample length of conductor I5 on the stage there is provided a generally circular sleeve-like rotatably mounted member 26 having a peripherally lrnurled hand grip or head 21 and a slot 28 which extends longitudinally throughout the length of the member. The slot 28, as clearly shown'in Figs. 3 and 4, is Iof such dimensions and arrangement relative to the cross-sectional dimensions of the conductor I6 that when the latter is entered and correctly positioned in the slot the longitudinal axes of the member 26 and the conductor will coincide. The dimension of the slot 2l between opposed slotgwalls 29 (Figs. 3 and-4) is such that the conductor l5 may be entered in the slot with opposedsemi-circular peripheral walls of the conductor freely abutting the slot g5 walls and without deforming the easily compressible outer rubber covering of the conductor.

When correctly positioned in the slot 26 one side of the conductor I5 abuts a wall 32 ofthe slot which interconnects the slot walls 29- and 80 is held thereagainst bymeans of a leaf spring 33 attached at its upper enbxl an angular arm 3l thereof to the upper surfacemf the head 21 of the member 26, the depending portion\of\the\ tions relative to the conducting wires embedded in the rubber cover.

In practicingthe method of measuring crosssectional areas of conductors by means of the above described apparatus avsarnplev length of' conductor i5 is first cut by an operator from a supply shortly after it emerges from an extruding machine which is used in the manufacture. of the rubber covered conductor. In cutting the conductor the cross-sectional end area thereof is distorted due to the rubber covering being easily compressed. The end of the conductor which has been distorted is then placed against a grinding wheel with a light pressure to remove the distorted portion and form an downwardly is insertedin the slot 2i of the sup-1`V porting member 26 which has been removed from the projection apparatus and while the member is vertically disposed with its lower end surface abutting a flat table. plate or other flat surface;-

the conductor is moved downwardly until it engages the flat table surface and is held in this -position inthe member 26 bythe action of the leaf spring 33. The ground end area Il of the y conductor is now flush with the lower end surface leaf spring extending along the slot 26 and freely srcithe member and thus is in correct focus if fitting' between the opposed walls 29 of the slot. At its lower end the leaf spring 33 engages the conductor I5 ata point adjacent the end area Il thereof. The extreme end of the leaf spring is turned outwardly to facilitate the insertion of 40 the length of conductor l5 into the slot 23 of the member 26, the conductor being inserted into the upper end of the member. For a comparatively short distance from its lower end the so that the lower end portion of the conductor i5, extending along the counterbore, is not confined at any point around its peripheral surface and thus the conductor is permitted to assume its natural configuration during measurement.

The periphery of the member 26 at a suitable distance below the head 21 is circularly tapered at 36 (Fig. l) to accurately fit the tapered peripheral circular surface of the aperture 25 in il is a scale kcomprising a combination of right angularly' arranged lines Il showing the desired 7o boundaries of the overall dimensions of the cross.- sectional area Il of the insulated conductor I5, the diameters of the opposed semi-circular conductor portions, the axes of the conducting wires I6 and the concentricity of the semi-circular por- 75 the apparatus has been previously properly adjusted when the member 2B is placed in the tapered aperture 25 of the member 2l and plate 22 carried by the adjustable stage bar 20 of the optical projection system. The magnified image of the conductor end area I4 is thus projected upon the scale screen .I8 through the lenses l1 in the manner previously described. If the apparatus is not correctly'focused, the operator member zc is counter-bored, as indicated at 35, may focus the image P011 the Screen l* by djusting the stage 2l, whereupon he rotates the conductor carried upon the rotatable supporting member-26 by means of the hand. grip 21 to bring the image into alignment with tue scale upon the screen and thus may readily compare the magniiled image of the end area Il of the conductor relative to the scale lines Il on the screen and note whether the contour and various dimensions of the end area Il of the conductor are within tolerable limits.

Although the invention as herein illustrated and described is particularly well adapted for use in connection with measuring the overall dimensions, diameter and .concentricity of easily compressible rubber coveredmulti-electrical conductors of the oval cross-sectional type, it should be understood that the novel features thereof are capable of being applied to the measuring of other-articles and should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 'l

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for measuring the dimensions of a cross-sectional area ofv an article, an optical projection system including means for producing a beam of light and projecting lari enlarged image of said area, means for holding and predeterminedly positioning the article in the system, said means including a sleeve-like member provided with a slot extending longiarticle and pqsiuoning said area flush with an y image of an end area of the insulated conductor,

means for holding and predeterminedly positioning the end area of a length of conductor'in the system, said means including an apertured support, a rotatable sleevelike member freely insertable in and removable from the aperture of said support, said aperture and member having tapered coacting walls eiective to rotatably position the member in the support, said member provided with a slot extending longitudinally throughout its length for receiving the conductor and positioning said end area thereof ush with an end surface of the member, and a leaf spring carried by said member and extending into the slot of,the member and engaging a peripheral surface of the conductor adjacent said end area for retaining the conductor within said slot and against a surface of said member, and a screen l having a scale uponwhich the enlarged image of said end area is projected for comparison with the scale.

3. In .an apparatus for measuring the dimensions of a cross-sectional area of an article, an optical projection system including means for producing a beam of light toilluminate the crosssectional area of an article, means to project an enlarged image of said' area of the article, means including a yieldable element engaging the article for supporting the article with said area thereof iiush with an end surface of said means, means for predeterminedly positioning said end surface of said means in projecting position in the system, and a screen having a scale upon which the enlarged image of said article area is projected for comparison with the scale.

4. Inan apparatus for measuring the diameter and/or concentricity of an insulated conductor, an optical projection system including means for producing a beam of light to illuminate the end area of an insulated conductor, means to project an enlarged image of an end area of the insulated conductor, a sleeve-like member for receiving a length of conductor, flexible means supported -by said sleeve and engaging the conductor for retaining said end area ilus'h with an end surface of the sleeve, means for predeterminedly positioning said surface in projecting position inthe system, and a. screen having a scale .upon-which the enlarged image of said area is projected for comparison with the scale.

' HAROLD R. LONGFELLOW. 

